Wednesday, May 04, 2011

Abiding Connecting - VI


To gain the life of God practically, we must maintain our connection with him through Jesus. The maintenance is similar to other relationships. People share common interests and experiences. They spend time and energy together. They maintain sensitivity to “messages” sent to each other.

In this metaphor, Jesus mentions his Word and prayer. The Word, God’s message to us, is an essential element to knowing God. Like letters from God to us, it reveals his heart, his purposes, his experience with disobedient and obedient children. It reveals how he deals with success, failure and that gray zone of mixed results. Scripture provides the undergirding for our relationship with him.

Prayer, people revealing their hearts to God, is an essential part of the equation. Since Jesus, his disciples have experimented, adapted and proscribed all types of prayer. Each has its place. Each has its value. I have practiced a variety of “divina lectio. For years. (Read the scripture until part of it speaks to you. Then, give it back to God in reflection, prayer, proclamation and agreement.)

We must also remain in a receiving mode in prayer. Yes, God speaks through his Word. But he also speaks directly to our hearts, through sunsets, cats, children and secular stories. Paul wrote that we must pray at all times. We cannot hurl petitions at heaven 24x7x365. We can bend our hearts toward him in a receiving mode. Then, respond in agreeing prayer or obedient action when he speaks.

I have been coming to believe that this receiving mode is a vital and necessary part of walking with God. When I fail in sin (as we all do), either my words or actions rise up too fast for me to catch them and I fall; or I must close my heart, turn off the receiver, so his word cannot break through. (Being in receiving mode may result in steps to take breaking through. These steps may result in struggle, loss of personal “peace” and failure. Or they may result in grace, success and transformation. To know a truth does not necessarily mean one will take the hard road. To stand against one’s sin, agree with God, and go against the philosophy of the world is a hard road.) But it is in this receiving mode that God is active in our lives, working in our hearts and bringing transformation moment by moment. It is also how we are able to discern between the multitude of good things we can do and the one laser-guided best work that enables us to complete God’s purposes for us.
 
As we stand in receiving mode, we are abiding in him, and we guarantee we will bear fruit that glorifies him.

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